Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 912

But Lewis began breezing around. In the most subtle way, he would make these suggestions. “Madame Secretary, you know that the Negotiating Committee is meeting here.”

“Oh yes. I hope you're getting on well.”

“Well, I'm surprised that the Cabinet shows no interest in this matter.”

“Well, “I said, “I think the President's interested in it.”

“I'm surprised that the Secretary of Labor shows no interest.”

“Oh, I'm very much interested, Mr. Lewis.”

I got the hint, and I said to McGrady, “Suppose you go and sit with these people and see what they're doing.

Mr. Lewis obviously wants some support. At least he wants some interest shown by the Government.”

Well, McGrady went out, and he returned grumbling, “Oh, he doesn't want anything. Lewis just wants to show off. He wants somebody to perform before.”

McGrady was very raw about him, very rough with him, describing him to me. “He just wants an audience. He wants me to show off before,” and so forth.

Anyhow, they kept on at it for some days, and kept up the negotiations, and then Lewis did one of his sudden turns, and practically came to an agreement with them--all offhand, not in the open, you see.





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help